Detectives investigating the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls have received 210 calls from the public after issuing a fresh description of her attacker.

By mouthing words or blinking to signal her answers, the 26-year-old managed to give a detailed description of the man who left her partially disabled and held a knife to her son's throat.

She was stabbed in the neck in a country lane in Little Bookham, Surrey, last Wednesday.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Rowley said her efforts had led to a number of "very helpful calls".

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "We have had a very good response from the latest appeal.

"She spent six hours going through events with us on Monday, and six hours yesterday."

Mrs Witchalls, whose spine was injured in the attack, told detectives that she had tried to run from the man after becoming nervous when their eyes met.

She was interviewed in her hospital bed at St George's, Tooting, south London, and insisted on continuing when police suggested she might need a break. She was pregnant with her second child when she was attacked, although it has not been revealed whether the unborn child has survived, and while her condition is improving, her father Martin Hollins has said she faces long-term disability.

Mr Harper revealed that Joseph is "starting to act out" some of what happened to him, adding that he may be interviewed.

"My main issue is to support Joseph and the issues around whether he could be spoken to is a very difficult, challenging one and is an area we will actually look into.

"But certainly, it's going to be difficult relying on anything from a child of that age," he said.

He also did not rule out showing video clips of suspects to Abigail in her hospital bed.

Mrs Witchalls told police that after leaving a mother and toddler group with Joseph at around 3.30pm, she first saw her attacker in a blue, five door "older style" estate car at about 3.45pm on a lane in the village.

Detective Superintendent Adrian Harper, of Surrey Police, said she had started to walk home along the track but, when she turned and saw that the car had been parked and the man was coming towards her, she started to run, with Joseph in his buggy.

Mr Harper said: "Abigail reached the gate that leads onto the lane off Burnhams Road but could not open it.

"She heard the man say, 'You have dropped your purse.'

"She turned around and saw that the man had grabbed hold of Joseph and was holding a knife to his throat.

"The man indicated to Abigail to come towards him, which she did.

"He then grabbed her hair, pulled her down towards the ground and as he did so stabbed her once in the back of the neck with the knife.

"He then pushed the buggy with Joseph still in it on top of her and ran off."

Describing the knifeman as "extremely dangerous", Mr Harper said: "Anyone who is prepared to threaten a young child and try to kill his mother in front of him is clearly capable of anything.

"It is our duty to inform the public about the danger that this man poses and appeal to everyone for information that can help us to catch him as soon as possible."

Mrs Witchalls described her attacker as aged 20-35, with short, dark, wavy or scruffy hair, between 5ft 10in and 6ft 4in tall, with a long, thin face and prominent cheekbones.

He was wearing looped silver earrings, had a deep voice with a Cockney or southern accent and Mrs Witchalls believes he was under the influence of drink or drugs.

Members of the public were warned not to approach him but call 999 immediately.

Mr Harper said the man may be local, adding: "These lanes are remote locations. It isn't an area you will have come to by chance."

The attack is not being treated as an attempted robbery and her purse and mobile were not taken.